Once Upon a Time at Fairyland

May 20, 2026

It's that time of year—time for Once Upon a Time at Fairyland!

Join us for our annual gala fundraiser, on May 20, 2026, and and connect with a tapestry of resilience in a region ready to blossom. This year, we celebrate our diverse, colorful, joyous community with our 2026 theme: BLOOM. It honors the fierce beauty in the face of adversity that Oakland and the Bay Area are famous for, and speaks to Fairyland’s role in creating spaces that nurture us all.

This spring, Once Upon a Time at Fairyland returns to the shores of Lake Merritt, bringing with it a rare—and coveted—opportunity for adults to experience the park without littles. Add to that a gorgeous evening of food, wine, costumes, and magic, and you’ve got an evening that cannot be missed. Last year, over 320 people from business, civic life, and all corners of our community came together at this magical event specially designed for philanthropic grown-ups to celebrate and invest in Bay Area families. Attendees made critical connections over a show-stopping meal to further Oakland’s dreams. Excitement filled the air at jaw-dropping discoveries made around every corner.

Through partnerships with numerous local businesses and sponsorships from community-focused individuals and corporations alike, our goal is nothing less than to raise a record amount of funds to support transformative programs, diverse representation, broad access, boundless joy, and nurturing spaces for all families. 

Bookmark this page for all the information you need for this must-attend event—from completing your sponsorship to submitting your meal choice, and from perusing auction listings to getting costume recommendations, you’ll find it all added here as we get closer and closer to May 20, 2026.

See you soon!

Cheers,
The 2026 Gala Committee

Addisu Demissie, co-chair
Travis Neal, co-chair
Jolie Beckwith
Petra Brady
Tori Decker
Denys Duffy
Natalie Foster
Isaac Kos-Read
Theresa Nelson
Dawn Newton
Nnanna Ogbu
Jana Pastena
Sarah Yoell